Advanced Transmission Technologies

COST CONTROLCOST DISTRIBUTIONCUSTOMER AGENCY

Last Updated September 22, 2025

AT-A-GLANCE

IMPACT TIME HORIZON

Short Term (0–2 Years)

POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS

High

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

An affordable transition to a modernized electricity system requires not just more transmission infrastructure but better transmission infrastructure. Today's grid planning and deployment processes focus mostly on the former — building new high-voltage transmission lines - and often overlook technologies like dynamic line ratings, high-performance conductors, topology optimization, and power flow control that can enhance grid performance at a lower cost while using existing rights of way.¹

These solutions, known collectively as "advanced transmission technologies" (ATTs), are key to quickly and affordably deploying additional resources and unlocking transmission capacity. But they face regulatory hurdles, institutional barriers, and upfront capital costs that slow their adoption.

State policy can accelerate the adoption of these technologies by, for example, requiring their evaluation in planning processes. A total of fifteen states across the political and geographic spectrum have now enacted policies to accelerate the deployment of advanced transmission technologies with the goal of meeting new demand affordably.

Impact Time Horizon

How long it typically takes for changes to materialize in utility behavior or customer bills

SHORT-TERM (0–2 YEARS)

Most advanced transmission technologies can be deployed in the short term though some may take longer. For example, topology optimization software or dynamic line rating approaches may be deployed in a year or less.

Potential Cost Savings

The level of cost savings that can reasonably be expected to result from this policy

high

Cost savings will depend on the policies and technologies employed, but many studies have shown ATTs to be cost-effective. One estimate found that a $100 million investment in ATTs in the PJM region would yield about $1 billion in annual production cost savings, another found that grid-enhancing technologies could deliver $5 billion in yearly energy production cost savings nationally with a 6-month payback period, and one estimated high-performance conductors could save $180 billion in electricity system costs nationally by 2050.

Target Cost Drivers

The policy can help to ease customer cost pressures created by these drivers

Aging grid infrastructureFuel price volatilityExtreme weather/wildfiresLoad growthMisaligned utility incentives

REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES

These state examples illustrate how states have put the policy into practice, highlighting different design approaches.

Indiana

Indiana's Senate Bill 422 establishes requirements for utilities to evaluate grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) as part of their integrated resource plans (IRPs) starting in 2026.

Ohio

Ohio's House Bill 15 requires that utilities evaluate advanced transmission technologies when applying for a Certificate of Public Necessity to expand or build new transmission infrastructure, study their use to reduce grid congestion, and submit implementation plans for cost-effective ATT solutions. It also directs the utility commission to assess statewide opportunities for ATT deployment.

Utah

Utah's House Bill 212, signed into law in 2025, requires utilities that propose additions to or expansions of the transmission system to analyze opportunities to use GETs within IRP filings, rate cases, and other proceedings.